Is there parking near Mr. Frostie in Pacific Beach?

Street parking is available on Garnet Ave and surrounding blocks—typical for Pacific Beach. It can get tight on sunny weekends, so arrive early or go on a weekday afternoon if you want an easier spot.

How long is the wait usually?

There's almost always a line, but it moves fast—people report 10+ people in line moving through quickly. Go on a weekday afternoon or grab a spot right before or after lunch rush if you want minimal waiting.

What should I order first time?

The soft-serve is a signature move here, and the banana splits get serious praise. Start with whatever the classic is, then come back to try the rotating specials—the variety keeps regulars coming back.

Is Mr. Frostie good for kids?

Absolutely. It's a neighborhood staple since 1949 and designed for families—counter-service, reasonable prices, and portion sizes that make kids genuinely happy. The variety of cold desserts means everyone finds something they want.

There's no outdoor patio seating mentioned, and it's a small counter-service spot. Best to keep your dog at home or tie them up outside while you grab ice cream quickly.

What's the vibe like?

Casual, beachy, and unpretentious—flip-flops welcome. It's a post-beach ritual spot where locals and visitors line up side-by-side for a quick, quality dessert without any fuss or high prices.

Are there options for dietary restrictions?

This is an old-school ice cream shop, so options are limited if you need vegan or dairy-free. Your best bet is to call ahead or ask at the counter what might work for your needs.

Mr. Frostie — Ice Cream & Dessert in Pacific Beach, San Die…

“Mr. Frostie has been scooping soft-serve on Garnet since 1949, back when PB was more fish shacks than frat parties.”

While The Baked Bear down the street makes you engineer a cookie-ice cream sandwich and Handel's scoops from tubs, Mr. Frostie keeps it simple: soft-serve cones, dipped or twisted, served fast from a walk-up window that hasn't changed much in seventy-five years. This isn't about customization or Instagram-worthy stacks — it's about a specific kind of beach ritual that predates every juice bar and açaí shop on this strip.

The **soft-serve twist** (chocolate-vanilla swirl) is what most people order, dipped in chocolate if they're feeling it. The **banana split** still shows up on summer evenings when families need something to split four ways. But the real locals know about the **hot dogs** and **sandwiches** — Mr. Frostie isn't just dessert. It's a counter-service joint that'll feed you lunch before you walk to Crystal Pier, or dinner after a long session in the shore break. The **Dirt** (some kind of Oreo-loaded situation) and **the Hot** (a sundae with hot fudge, presumably) get mentioned enough in reviews to be worth trying, but honestly, most people aren't here for complexity.

Lines form on weekends, especially Sunday afternoons when the whole boardwalk is shoulder-to-shoulder, but they move. The staff has the rhythm down — ten people deep looks worse than it is. You'll wait maybe five minutes, which in PB summer terms is basically nothing.

Parking on Garnet is always a gamble. Your best bet is side streets or the public lot near the pier, then walk. Mr. Frostie isn't the kind of place you drive to specifically unless you're already in the neighborhood — it's where you end up after a day at the beach, still in flip-flops, possibly sunburned, definitely ready for something cold and sweet that doesn't cost twelve dollars.